American Bar Association, Chicago, IL. Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship.

This document lists the law-related education activities conducted by state courts. The listings are arranged by state. Entries list the name of the court, a list of activities provided, descriptions of unusual programs, guidelines for programs that some of the courts have developed, and the name, title or committee, address, and phone number of a contact person for each state. Entries range from those where the court conducts no law related education activities but works closely with state centers for law and civic education, to elaborate programs. The entry for Alaska describes a program through the youth court in which juveniles accused of misdemeanors and felonies involving property, assault, and firearms charges, appear in a court where the roles of attorneys, bailiffs, clerks, and judges are filled by youth. Students in grades 7 through 12 can take an 8 to 10 week comprehensive law course. After passing a bar exam, they are sworn in as attorneys. Adult attorneys review students' research on each case. Hearings are held in court. Sentences include community service, essays, attendance at adult arraignments, restitution and fines, and classes in shoplifting or substance abuse education. More typical activities listed include Law Day, visits to classrooms by judges, oral arguments held at schools, bicentennial celebrations, student visits to court, teacher education, mock trials, and curriculum development. (DK)